Canada's Eric Basran (7-0, 3 KOs) leaves shortly to compete in the junior welterweight division of the inaugural Riyadh Season/World Boxing Council (WBC) Grand Prix in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The single-elimination tournament will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN featuring a total of 128 fighters in four weight classes: featherweight, junior welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight. All fighters will be subject to random drug testing in compliance with the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program, as well as Riyadh Season’s commitment to VADA testing.

 

“I’m honored, excited and grateful,” the 26-year-old Basran said about competing in the WBC Grand Prix. “I’ll be showcasing my skills to the world. I’m glad to have more exposure. I should have had 15 pro fights by now, but a lot of fights fell out. I signed with Three Lions Promotions and they’re looking for bigger opportunities for me like this. The Grand Prix can open up a lot more opportunities for me, because I haven’t been exposed enough, and I can get to another level. It’s great to be able to gauge myself against some of the best super lightweight prospects in the world. This is like a stepping-stone.”

 

As an amateur boxer, Basran was a four-time Canadian National Champion, who won the 2019 Canadian Olympic Qualifier, in addition to capturing a bronze medal at the 2019 Commonwealth Games. The Surrey, British Columbia native has only fought in Canada and Mexico as in pro, but he did travel extensively as an amateur boxer, competing in Russia, Czech Republic, Australia and all-over South America. “I know a lot of people don’t think we have good fighters in Canada,” Basran noted. “I’m going to make a statement that I’m talented and want the biggest fights. This trip is all business for me. At the end of the day, my mindset is the same as it is for any fight, and I’ll adjust to my opponents when I get into the ring. I know everything is lined up for me.”

 

Projected leading contenders in the junior welterweight division include Alan “El Rusito” David Crenz (14-1, 14 KOs), of Argentina; Jerald “Truman” Into (11-0, 9 KOs), of Philippines, Danzelli Onyango Okoth (5-0, 3 KOs), of Kenya; Mujbillo Tursunov (5-0, 2 KOs), of Uzbekistan; European U-23 gold medalist Danylo Lozan (12-0, 8 KOs), of Ukraine; Kamronbek Eshmatov (10-1, 7 KOs), of Uzbekistan; and Misael “Pichon” Cabrera Urias (15-2-1, 11 KOs), of Mexico.  

 

Other leading challengers include Spanish lightweight champion Jokin Garcia (10-1-1, 7 KOs), Australian lightweight champion Hassan Hamdan (9-0, 3 KOs), Egypt's Marwan Mamdouh Mohamed Madboly (5-0, 3 KOs), South African junior welterweight champion Ntethelelo Nkosi (7-2, 4 KOs), Polandjunior welterweight champion Bartolomoij (9-0, 3 KOs), Ghana junior welterweight champion Samuel “No Chance” Quaye (10-1, 7 KOs), 2018 Kazakh national champion Sanatali Toltaysev (2-0, 1 KO), Argentinian lightweight champion Alan Ezequiel Dutra (14-0, 8 KOs), 2019 Canadian Amateur Championship gold medalist Spencer Wilcox (10-0, 5 KOs), and United Kingdom’s Tommy “Gun” Collins (11-0, 2 KOs) and Nathan Forest (9-0, 3 KOs).  

 

“We have reviewed the list of opponents in the 140-pound division of the WBC Grand Prix, and we are confident that Eric has what it takes to come out on top,” Basran’s promoter Dan Otter commented. “He is ready to seize this opportunity and win. This is a huge milestone for the WBC, under the leadership of President Mauricio Sulaimán, and a testament to the vision and dedication of His Excellency Turki Al-Sheikh in bringing the World Cup of Boxing to life.”                                                                                                                                               

 

The opening round of 32 matches will feature scheduled six-round bouts, increasing to eight for the final rounds in each division, and participating fighters will represent more than 40 counties from around the world. The four divisional winners will be presented with the Jose Sulaimán Trophy, named after the late WBC President Jose Sulaimán, who first envisioned a prospect-based Boxing Grand Prix more than a decade ago. There will be open scoring after the second and fourth rounds, a buzzer will sound 30 seconds prior to the end of each round, instant replay will be implemented, and no draws.